Pynchon as world author

[will.miller.ace at artsfb.org.uk]

On the contrary I know a lot of Australian's who love Pynchon and when I was 
at uni in the late 70s there were even then a few who were studying GR at 
Honours/MA level.

(I don't think the intellectual mix is any different from anywhere else, but 
being from Oz myself, I know that sometimes we suffer from something called 
'cultural cringe'... )
 ----------
From: bwestbur at arts.adelaide.edu.au
To: "pynchon-l at waste.org" <pynchon; ARTSFBS/ACE/WMILLER
Subject: RE: Pynchon as world author
Date: 25 May 1996 04:16

Judging from the weekly book reviews in the newspapers, and judging from
my own experience teaching contemporary American literature, Australians
don't take to Pynchon much, nor to anything that smacks of
too-clever-by-half postmodernism.  The few Oz writers (2 0r 3 of them very
impressive indeed) who work in modes at all resembling Pynchon's are
accorded grudging respect but I suspect they don't sell many hard copies
for hard cash.
(You want to read a fascinating Oz writer try Gerald Murnane. He's not a
Pynchon but a one-off genius who works his own side of the street. He's a
hell of a lot more interesting than some of the writers mentioned on this
list as suitable for the delectation of TRP lovers. The boring Volllman
for example.)

I have been teaching Pynchon over here for 20 years, so I know there are a
few enlightened souls, initiates into Lot 49 and even a happy band of
honours students who are the first (and only) on their blocks to have
actually read GR. The best Pynchonites amongst students are the science
bods who take one lit. course and discover -- wow!--Pynchon is on their
frequency. I believe that the ordinary educated Ozzie might possibly
recognize the name but that's about it. All his books are in the better
bookshops, tho. Of course, bear in mind that when Robert Lowell died, it
got one line in the newspapers here.
Back to reading IJ, the only Australian copy, I believe. Not a patch on
Pynchon yet. (Page 150).
Barry W
Adelaide Uni